Contact lenses imports in Saudi Arabia: data, top suppliers and prices
Imports of contact lenses by Saudi Arabia reached $29.3 million in 2024 (320 tonnes). That is 8% more than in 2023. Over 2017-2024 the trade grew strongly, by about 8% a year on average.
Public statistics, latest complete year (2024). Values in US dollars. Page updated .
Imports by year, 2017-2024
Hover or tap a year for detail.
Year by year
| Year | Value | Quantity |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $29.3M | 321 t |
| 2023 | $27.2M | 164 t |
| 2022 | $28.8M | 456 t |
| 2021 | $35.3M | 392 t |
| 2020 | $21.1M | 257 t |
| 2019 | $28.7M | 317 t |
| 2018 | $29.0M | 201 t |
| 2017 | $16.6M | 119 t |
Where Saudi Arabia imports contact lenses from
The largest suppliers were South Korea (30%), Ireland (20%), United States (16%). Among the main suppliers, Germany grew fastest (+202% on the year before).
| Supplier country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| South Korea | $8.9M | 30% |
| Ireland | $5.9M | 20% |
| United States | $4.7M | 16% |
| Germany | $4.7M | 16% |
| United Kingdom | $1.6M | 5.3% |
| Singapore | $780K | 2.7% |
| Kuwait | $611K | 2.1% |
| Malaysia | $520K | 1.8% |
| Italy | $377K | 1.3% |
| Indonesia | $306K | 1% |
Average import price per kg
The average declared value was about $91.34 per kg, 35% below the world average of $141.38, which often means bulk or lower-grade product.
Declared value divided by weight, all 2024 shipments. Prices per shipment and per company are in EximDataX.
Contact lenses exports from Saudi Arabia
Exports of contact lenses by Saudi Arabia reached $236 thousand in 2024 (3 tonnes). One buyer market dominates: United Arab Emirates accounted for 86% of the value. Among the main buyer markets, United Arab Emirates grew fastest, more than tenfold on the year before.
| Destination | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| United Arab Emirates | $204K | 87% |
| Kuwait | $13K | 5.6% |
| Qatar | $9K | 3.6% |
| Bahrain | $6K | 2.5% |
| Sudan | $1K | 0.5% |
| South Korea | $1K | 0.4% |
| Cyprus | $1K | 0.3% |
| Belgium | $0K | 0.2% |
| Switzerland | $0K | 0.1% |
| France | $0K | 0.1% |
Who is behind these numbers in Saudi Arabia?
The shipment records behind Saudi Arabia contact lenses imports (HS 9001.30): companies, dates, quantities and declared values.
Shipment records are in the platform
Tell us what you trade and we will show you the latest records on a live call.
Mirror data: built from the shipment records of the countries that trade with it.
Source: CEPII BACI (reconciled UN Comtrade data), HS 2017 edition, release 202601, Etalab Open Licence 2.0. Annual values in US dollars at the customs border; quantities in tonnes where reported. HS 9001.30: Lenses, contact: unmounted, of any material, excluding elements of glass not optically worked.
Common questions
What is the value of contact lenses imported by Saudi Arabia?
Saudi Arabia imported contact lenses worth $29.3 million in 2024, the latest year with complete public data, about 320 tonnes. That ranks it 33rd of 194 countries worldwide, with 0% of world imports. The value was up 8% on 2023.
Which countries supply contact lenses to Saudi Arabia?
South Korea was the largest supplier with 30% of the value ($8.9 million), followed by Ireland (20%) and the United States (16%). The top three together account for 67%, out of 31 supplier countries in total. Germany grew fastest among the top ten, up 202% on the year.
What is the average import price of contact lenses per kg?
The average declared import value was about $91.34 per kg in 2024, 35% below the world average of $141.38 per kg. Declared value divided by weight mixes every grade, so read it as a benchmark rather than a quote.
How have imports of contact lenses to Saudi Arabia changed since 2017?
Imports went from $16.6 million in 2017 to $29.3 million in 2024, an increase of 77%. The peak was 2021 at $35.3 million. Over 8 years the average was $27.0 million a year.
Does Saudi Arabia also export contact lenses?
Yes. Saudi Arabia exported $236 thousand worth of this product in 2024, mainly to the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait and Qatar. On balance Saudi Arabia is a net importer of this product, by about $29.0 million a year.
What is the HS code for contact lenses?
The HS code for contact lenses is subheading 9001.30. It sits in HS chapter 90 (optical, photographic, cinematographic, measuring, checking, medical or surgical instruments and apparatus; parts and accessories). The full list of codes and descriptions is on the HS 9001 page.
How can I find the companies behind this trade?
For Saudi Arabia, EximDataX reads the shipment records of the countries that trade with it and shows the companies on both sides. We can walk you through your product on a short call.
Same product, other countries
More trade data for Saudi Arabia
See what your buyers are buying.Then decide.
Everything we show you comes from official customs filings — records, not claims. 30 minutes. Your shipment. Your HS code. Real platform. If you don’t see something new about your market by the end of the call, we walk away. No follow-ups.